Being a responsible public official starts with being a responsible candidate.
And with the start of the official campaign season for local positions for the May 12 midterm elections less than a month away, the city government of Biñan, Laguna under Mayor Arman Dimaguila aims to impress to all candidates running for local positions in the city that being a responsible candidate starts with responsible campaigning.
Starting last March 10, the city government, led by the City Information Office and the City Community Affairs Office spearheaded an “Oplan Baklas” campaign of removing unauthorized election paraphernalia in the run-up to the start of the official campaign season for local candidates on March 28.
“Ang operation na ito ay isinagawa batay sa instructions po ni Mayor Arman Dimaguila at Vice Mayor Gel Alonte na mauna na po tayo, huwag na po nating hintayin ang March 28," Roman Carencia of the Biñan City Information Office told local media during the “Oplan Baklas” operation along the Malvar St. bridge in Barangay San Antonio.
“Ang pinaaalis po natin dito ay hindi lamang po ang mga streamer na wala sa designated posting area kundi pati na rin po yung mga oversized na campaign materials,” Carencia added.
On the other hand, Ron Roscain, head of the Biñan City Community Affairs Office, stressed that the “Oplan Baklas” is conducted with impartiality.
“Wala po tayong itatangi rito – kapartido man po natin o hindi, basta wala tamang lugar, lahat po ay tatanggalin,” Roscain told local media.
While the main focus of the “Oplan Baklas” campaign had been the campaign materials of candidates running for national positions (senators and party-list representatives), not even posters of those running for local positions were spared from being removed from “unauthorized” areas.
This, even as officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had clarified that, until the start of the official campaign season, those running for national and local positions are not considered as “candidates” but merely “aspirants.”This meant that, before the official campaign season, they are not subject to the restrictions on campaign materials that, prior to the 2025 elections, had been imposed by the Comelec.
Where to post?
During the “Oplan Baklas” campaign, Roscain said that, in compliance with Comelec guidelines, common poster areas will be put up in all 24 barangays inside Biñan City.
“Doon lang po tayo sa mga common poster area na itinakda ng Comelec tayo pwedeng maglagay ng mga campaign material. At dapat po 2 feet by 3 feet lamang po ang size ng mga poster na ilalagay natin,” the local official also stressed.
Mayor Dimaguila, in a separate interview with OpinYon Laguna, added that these common poster areas will be put up near barangay halls, a place where all candidates can place their campaign materials.
“Yun pong area malapit sa mga barangay hall, doon pwede pong maglagay ng mga poster at tarpaulin ang ating mga kandidato. In fact, pwede nga po na one side para sa ganitong paksyon, another side para sa opponent nila, then another section para naman sa mga independent na kandidato,” Dimaguila explained.
Supporters are also allowed to post campaign paraphernalia inside their own houses or private walls, he added.
On the other hand, according to Comelec guidelines, trees, electric and telecommunications posts, and public spaces including government buildings and facilities are strictly off-limits for campaign paraphernalia.
Recycling
When asked what the city government plans to do with all the confiscated campaign paraphernalia, which mostly consists of plastic-based tarpaulins, Dimaguila said the city government is planning to incorporate them in their various recycling projects.
“Ito pong mga nakuha nating mga campaign materials na wala sa lugar, ise-shred po natin ang mga ito, tapos gagamitin sa iba pang mga proyekto,” he explained.
Among other uses, Dimaguila said the tarpaulins, if unclaimed by candidates, can be recycled into bags and baskets (a project of the City Gender and Development Office), or converted into “eco-bricks” that can be used as construction materials.
More than ‘pakitang-tao’
Dimaguila also stressed that the “Oplan Baklas” campaign is more than simply lip service or “pakitang-tao,” but rather an example not only for Biñan City but for other local government units in the country as well.
The city executive also urged all candidates running for local positions in the city to exercise their own sense of discipline and responsibility among their supporters through abiding with the Comelec guidelines on campaign paraphernalia.
“Sa mga kasama nating kandidato, hangga’t maaga pa ay ipatanggal na natin ang mga poster at tarpaulin na wala sa lugar. Ipalipat na po natin ito sa mga pribadong lugar, para naman po huwag masayang ang pagiging kandidato natin lalo na kapag nasita tayo ng Comelec,” he said.
For his own part, Vice Mayor Gel Alonte said the "Oplan Baklas" campaign is a reminder to all elected government officials that they should lead the way in implementing the rules that will, in turn, enable the public to make informed choices in the coming polls.
"Gusto po nating manguna ang city government ng Biñan sa pagsunod sa mga guideline na itinakda ng Comelec, kabilang na nga po ang kusang pagbabaklas sa mga campaign poster na wala sa lugar," Alonte stressed.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #OpinYonCoverStory #OplanBaklas #BiñanLGU #COMELEC